Nokia 6720 classic review: Up a notch

Gsmarena have posted their review of the Nokia 6720 classic. Here are the phone's key features, main disadvantages and final impression.

Key features:
- ARM 11 600 MHz processor
- Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
- Tri-band 3G with 10Mbps HSDPA and 2Mbps HSUPA
- 2.2" 16M-color QVGA display
- 5 megapixel camera, autofocus and LED flash, Carl Zeiss optics
- Nice image quality
- VGA video recording at 15fps
- Built-in GPS receiver
- Free lifetime global pedestrian navigation
- Built-in accelerometer sensor
- Turn-to-mute and turn-to-snooze
- Stereo FM radio with RDS
- Bluetooth (with A2DP), TV-out, 3.5mm audio jack
- microSD card slot (16 GB supported, 1GB included)
- Ovi Maps and Ovi Share
- N-gage support
- Steel battery cover

Main disadvantages:
- No Wi-Fi support
- Display is small, poor in image quality and brightness
- Questionable build quality
- Unprotected camera lens, LED instead of xenon are downgrades from the 6220 classic
- Video maxes out at VGA@15 fps
- No TV-out cable in the retail box

Nokia 6720 classic is another Symbian powered smartphone in the standard 4-digit product line of the house. It has an orthodox candybar form factor, the homely and familiar Symbian S60 third edition, a wonderful 5 megapixel camera and GPS. If you can live without Wi-Fi or have a sound data plan, you may as well be sold on the Nokia 6720 classic - compact and convincing, hard-working and fun.

At about 220 euro and (hopefully) still dropping, the Nokia 6720 classic is a basic smartphone package, which will do the job for the typical value-for-money user who wants more from their phone. A decent looking entry-level all-rounder can very well be enjoying strong demand. It probably has little to no appeal for long-time Symbian customers but may as well motivate an upgrade from S40 or competing feature phones.

Nokia and Symbian are tightening their grip on the midrange smartphone market to the extent it's near impossible to identify credible competition for the 6720 classic. So, let's look instead at the other viable Symbian offers in this price bracket.

A very timely and relevant reference is the Nokia 5630 XpressMusic. It has a full connectivity pack and we guess Wi-Fi is hard to say no to. The 5630 XpressMusic is a slim and compact package with the same screen size and the low-grade 3.2 megapixel camera is duly reflected in the price tag. It's 60 euro cheaper than the current 6720 classic, so if imaging is not a priority, the 5630 XpressMusic is a must-consider. By the way, the touch-controlled 5800 XpressMusic is very much in the picture too, with its price comfortably settling.

An even older Symbian handset may also have enough left in it to steal some 6720 classic market. The Nokia N79 has looks and Nseries skill against the novelty. Xpress-on smart covers, bigger screen, Wi-Fi, Navi wheel and better video round off quite a bargain at the the 6720 classic's current asking price.

The Nokia 6710 Navigator simply goes hand in hand with the 6720 classic. It's only fair to assume it will be more expensive but then, the feature set quite deserves it. It's the same platform and processor, but the slider form factor kindly increases screen size while navigation and WLAN do give it a real edge.

Finally the 6720 classic predecessor - the Nokia 6220 classic has slashed its price in half and boasts pretty much the same specs with a xenon flash and 30 fps VGA video on top. Its looks and build quality are downright inferior, but the veteran is still quite capable in the imaging department.

So, such a plentiful supply of Symbian smartphones is more than good news for the user. Not so much for the 6720 classic really, but the phone looks well focused and aware of its rank. Nokia seem to have a credible entry-level smartphone, which will find both its spot in the company's Symbian lineage and its way to the users - once the launch price settles at a more sensible level.